- Rabastan (was: The Gang of Slytherins)

[catherinemckiernan]

No: HPFGUIDX 85443

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Katrina" <patnkatng at c...>
wrote:
> --- In Post #85408, 
> 
> Carol wrote:
> 
> *snip*
> >(I'm still wondering about his brother Rabastan, mentioned 
> >in another post. Anyone for an analysis of that name and its 
> > possible significance?) 
> 
> Katrina responds:
> 
> While I could find nothing on "Rabastan," a quick search through
the 
> astronomy sites for "Rastaban" turned up some very interesting 
> information.  According to 
> http://www.winshop.com.au/annew/Alwaid.html
> Rastaban is another name for the star Beta Draconis.  It also 
> says, "The Arabic name for Rastaban or Alwaid is Ra's ath-Thu'ban 
> (1), 'Head of the snake'. Raso tabbani was a variation. 
> 
> [Hebrew name Rastaban, means the Head of the Subtle (serpent). In 
> the Arabic it is still called Al Waid, which means, 'who is to be 
> destroyed.'"
> Then it lists traditions and beliefs associated with the star as 
> follows:
> 
<Catherine interrupts: interesting list is below>

I did go Hmm, but I have another theory (don't we always). Rabastan is
no more a common name than Rastaban, so why should JKR corrupt the
star name to create it? Surely the pure-bloods care about spelling?
Moreover his brother Rodolphus does not have a star name, and the
pure-bloods do name their families in sets, whether the astronomically
fixated Blacks, or the old-fashioned-feeling Weasleys. So I submit a
theory for Rabastan itself, that links the brothers, and justifies the
meaning (I hope).

Rodolphus comes from Rudolf, which combines the Germanic elements hrod
"fame," or "counsel" and wulf "wolf." Rabastan as his brother shares
the hrod through Rab-, a corruption of Rob- (as in the Scottish
nickname Rab for Robert), followed by the English/Germanic stan ,
"stone." This would fit Rodolphus as the thinner, nervy-looking man,
and Rabastan as more solid and thickset, a bit less sparky than his
brother, not getting the girl and as the Fourth Man enduring years of
speculation over his identity in the Pensieve Trial.

Catherine McK

(If you wonder why you read a similar post on Fictionalley, it was me
under my usename there)
> Influence of the constellation: "According to Ptolemy the bright 
> stars are like Saturn and Mars. Draco gives an artistic and 
> emotional but somber nature, a penetrating and analytical mind,
much 
> travel and many friends, but danger of robbery and accidental 
> poisoning. It gives craft, ingenuity, and valor. The Ancients said 
> that when a comet was here, poison was scattered over the world. By 
> the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Mem and the 
> 13th Tarot Trump, Death". (Robson).  
> 
> General influence of the star: It gives loss of property, violence, 
> criminal inclinations and accidents. (Robson).
> 
> With Moon: Blindness, wounds, quarrels, bruises, stabs, blows 
> (operations can be substituted nowadays) and kicks from horses. 
> (Robson).
> 
> Interestingly, it twice associates poison with the constellation 
> Draco.
> 
> Things that make you go, "Hmmmm. . . "